Alconbury mother with terminal cancer to hold wedding dress ball

at Alconbury are (l-r) Helen Brown and Claire Senior holding a wedding dress ball for charity

A MOTHER of two with terminal cancer is inviting women to dust off their wedding dresses for a charity ball.

Claire Senior, 39, found out she has terminal adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) in April 2012, after being clear of the disease for six years.

Discovering she could have as little as two years left to live, she said she wanted to do something to raise money for causes supporting her through her illness.

She came up with the idea of a Wedding Wishes Ball, in which former brides can wear their wedding dresses and celebrate the happiest time of their lives.

Mrs Senior, who lives with her husband David and children Danielle, 14 and Oscar, three, in Chapel Street, Alconbury, said: "I was first diagnosed in 2005 and had radio therapy and surgery which appeared to get rid of it. I had been having check-ups on my throat for years and it had been fine until I felt a pain in my rib area last March and went to the doctor.

"Because of my history they did blood tests and they told me I had tumours in my lungs and my liver."

Mrs Senior and her family have been involved in lots of charity work over the last few years, raising more than £2,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

This time, Mrs Senior is hoping to raise £2,500 for the Nick Slevin ACC Research Fund, which has played a big part in her treatment, and Marie Curie, which she says will play a crucial role in achieving her wish to die peacefully at home.

"I wanted to do something for charity and my husband had my wedding dress cleaned for me as a surprise for our anniversary last year," she said. "I'm inviting women to wear their wedding dresses and hoping to raise lots of money for two very important charities."

At the ball there will be a hog roast, the swing band that played at Claire and David's wedding in 2007, a disco and an auction of promises with prizes including a week in a Lake District log cabin, a party at Huntingdon Gym for up to 30 children, and meals at several local restaurants.

INFORMATION: The ball starts at 7.30pm on Saturday, September 21, tickets are £25. Raffle prizes are still needed. For tickets or to offer prizes contact Claire Senior on 07887 500538 or to donate to the cause go to www.justgiving.com/WeddingWishesBall